Cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles

ABSTRACT

The cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles has a lower portion and an upper portion removably attached to the lower portion. The lower portion has a lower wall, a first annular sidewall and an open upper end. The lower wall and the first annular sidewall of the lower portion are each hollow. The open interior regions of the lower portion are in fluid communication with one another and are at least partially filled with a refreezable material. The upper portion has an open lower end, an upper end having a central opening formed therethrough and a second annular sidewall. The upper end and the second annular sidewall are each hollow. The open interior regions of the upper portion are in fluid communication with one another and are at least partially filled with the refreezable material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to containers and receptacles, and particularly to a portable, cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vaccinations of animals are used both to prevent the animals from contracting diseases and to prevent transmission of disease to humans. Both animals kept as pets and animals raised as livestock are routinely vaccinated. In order to maintain the health of livestock, as well as preventing the transmission of disease to humans, vaccination is a necessity, particularly in agricultural societies.

Due to the potential for bacterial infection of the vaccine itself, as well as chemical breakdown and other factors, many vaccines must be kept refrigerated, or at least within a controlled temperature range in order to remain effective. However, in tropical regions, desert regions and other regions having relatively high temperatures, it is often difficult to maintain vaccines at desired temperatures, particularly up to and throughout the actual inoculation process.

Thus, a cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers and receptacles, and particularly to a portable cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles. The cooling receptacle includes an upper portion releasably attached to a lower portion, e.g., by a threaded joint. The lower portion has a lower wall, a first annular sidewall and an open upper end. The first annular sidewall is preferably substantially cylindrical for receiving a lower portion of a vaccine bottle, the lower end of the vaccine bottle resting on an interior face of the lower wall of the lower portion.

The lower wall and the first annular sidewall of the lower portion are each hollow. The open interior regions of the hollow walls are in fluid communication with one another and are at least partially filled with a refreezable material. Any suitable type of refreezable material, such as that commonly found in ice and gel packs, may be used.

The receptacle has an upper portion, the upper portion having an open lower end, an upper end having a central opening formed therethrough and a second annular sidewall. The second annular sidewall preferably is substantially arcuate in cross section, so that an upper portion of the vaccine bottle may be received therein, the vaccine bottle having an upper end at least partially projecting through the central opening. The upper end of the upper portion of the receptacle and the second annular sidewall are each hollow. The open interior regions of the upper portion of the receptacle are in fluid communication with one another and are at least partially filled with the refreezable material. The lower end of the upper portion releasably engages the upper end of the lower portion to define an open interior dimensioned and configured for removably receiving the vaccine bottle.

As opposed to conventional coolers and the like, the cooling receptacle is not only designed to hold only a single bottle of vaccine, but is also used to maintain a cool temperature of the vaccine during the injection process, rather than only in transport and storage thereof.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded front view in section of a cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an environmental front view in section of the cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles according to the present invention, shown with a vaccine bottle in phantom lines.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to containers and receptacles, and particularly to a portable, cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooling receptacle 10 includes a lower portion 14 and an upper portion 12 that are threaded together to form the receptacle. The lower portion 14 has a lower wall 22, a first annular sidewall 20 and an open upper end 26. The first annular sidewall 20 is preferably substantially cylindrical and is adapted for receiving a lower portion of a vaccine bottle 40 (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2). The lower end of the vaccine bottle 40 rests on the interior face of the lower wall 22.

The lower wall 22 and the first annular sidewall 20 of the lower portion 14 are each hollow. The open interior regions of the lower portion 14 are in fluid communication with one another and are at least partially filled with a refreezable material 24. The refreezable material 24 may be any suitable material having a high enthalpy of fusion, such as the non-toxic materials commonly used in ice and gel packs. Although ice water has an unusually high enthalpy of fusion and a convenient melting temperature (one accessible by household freezers), ice water is not ideal for ice packs for various reasons. Thus, additives to improve the properties of water are often used. For example, substances can be added to prevent bacterial growth in the pack, as can additives that cause the water to remain a thick gel throughout use, instead of transitioning between a solid and a free-flowing liquid like plain water. These gel packs are often made of non-toxic materials that will not liquefy, and therefore will not spill easily or cause contamination if the container breaks. Gel packs may be made by adding hydroxyethyl cellulose or vinyl-coated silica gel to water to form the refreezable material. It should be understood that any suitable type of refreezable material 24 may be utilized.

The receptacle 10 has an upper portion 12 having an open lower end 28, an upper end 30 having a spout-shaped central opening 32 formed therethrough and a second annular sidewall 16. The second annular sidewall 16 preferably is substantially arcuate in vertical cross section, the upper portion being generally dome-shaped so that an upper portion of the vaccine bottle 40 may be received therein. The upper end 42 of the vaccine bottle 40 at least partially projects through the spout-shaped central opening 32. Preferably, in use, only about one centimeter (including the cover or cap) of the vaccine bottle 40 will extend beyond the cooling confines of receptacle 10, thus allowing for aspiration of the vaccine solution.

The upper end 30 and the second annular sidewall 16 are each hollow. The open interior regions of the upper portion are in fluid communication with one another and are at least partially filled with the refreezable material 24. As with conventional ice and gel packs, the cooling receptacle 10 is chilled before use by placing the cooling receptacle 10 in a freezer or other cooling system to lower its temperature. The cooling receptacle 10 is then used to keep the vaccine bottle 40 refrigerated. The walls of cooling receptacle 10 may be formed from any suitable material, such as plastic or the like.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lower end 28 of the upper portion 12 defines an internally threaded cylindrical recess 44. The upper end of the lower portion 14 defines a cylindrical externally threaded neck 46. The upper portion 12 and the lower portion 14 define a receptacle cavity for receiving a vaccine bottle 40. The vaccine bottle 40 may be placed in the lower portion 14, and the upper portion 12 may then be threaded onto the lower portion 14 to encase the vaccine bottle 40 in the cooling receptacle 10, except for the small portion of the upper end 42 of the bottle 40 that projects from the central opening 32. It should be understood that upper portion 12 and lower portion 14 are dimensioned and configured according to the size of the vaccine bottle 40 stored therein. Thus, the cooling receptacle 10 keeps the vaccine chilled after refrigeration or cooling by ice in a cooler, the vaccine being maintained at a cool temperature during storage, transport, and during the process of administering the vaccine to animals. It will also be understood that the upper portion may be releasably attached to the lower portion in any other manner known in the art, e.g., the upper and lower portions may be releasably attached by a snap fit.

As opposed to conventional coolers and the like, the present cooling receptacle 10 is not only designed to hold only a single bottle of vaccine 40, but is also used to maintain a cool temperature of the vaccine during the injection process, rather than only in transport and storage.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles, comprising: a lower portion having a lower wall, a first annular sidewall extending from the lower wall, and an open upper end, the lower wall and the first annular sidewall each being hollow and defining open interior regions in fluid communication with one another; an upper portion having an open lower end, an upper end having a central opening formed therethrough and a second annular sidewall, the upper end and the second annular sidewall each being hollow and defining open interior regions in fluid communication with one another, the upper portion being releasably attached to the lower portion to define a receptacle adapted for receiving a vaccine bottle; and a refreezable material disposed in the hollow interior regions of the upper portion and the lower portion of the cooling receptacle; whereby the cooling receptacle maintains the vaccine bottle and its contents at a cool temperature after chilling.
 2. The cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles as recited in claim 1, wherein the first annular sidewall of the lower portion is substantially cylindrical.
 3. The cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles as recited in claim 2, wherein the second annular sidewall of the upper portion is substantially dome-shaped, the upper portion being adapted for receiving an upper portion of the vaccine bottle.
 4. The cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles as recited in claim 3, wherein the upper end of the upper portion of the cooling receptacle is spout-shaped.
 5. The cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles as recited in claim 1, wherein the refreezable material is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose solution and vinyl-coated silica gel solution.
 6. The cooling receptacle for vaccine bottles as recited in claim 1, wherein the lower end of the upper portion defines a cylindrical internally threaded recess and the upper end of the lower portion has a cylindrical externally threaded neck, the upper portion being threaded onto the lower portion to define a receptacle dimensioned and configured for receiving the vaccine bottle, the vaccine bottle having an upper end partially extending through the central opening and above the upper portion of the cooling receptacle. 